South Africa reports first death due to cholera as cases rise to five
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[February 24, 2023]
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - One person with no travel history has
died due to cholera in South Africa, the health department said on
Thursday, as the number of confirmed cases in the country rose to five.
The development comes on the heels of rising cases of cholera in
Southern Africa, with Malawi battling its deadliest outbreak yet, with
more than 1,300 deaths.
Cholera can cause acute diarrhoea, vomiting and weakness and is mainly
spread by contaminated food or water. It can kill within hours if
untreated.
The two new cases in South Africa are of men in their 20s who had no
travel history, the health department said, adding one of them has
subsequently died.
"One of his contacts is still in hospital and further investigation is
being conducted," it said in a statement.
South Africa reported two imported cases of the disease from Malawi
earlier this month. The husband of one of the first two cases also later
tested positive.
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![](../images/022423PIX/health59.jpg)
Violett Motta, a health surveillance
assistant in Malawi, mixes chlorine with water to disinfect it at a
health centre in response to the latest cholera outbreak in
Blantyre, Malawi, November 16, 2022. REUTERS/Eldson Chagara/
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Feb/24/images/ads/current/heartland_lda_020123.png) While cholera is not endemic in
South Africa, health officials have called for vigilance and hygiene
amid fears of local transmission of the disease.
Malawi's neighbours Mozambique and Zambia have also reported cholera
cases, while Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia in the East are responding
to outbreaks amid a terrible and protracted drought.
In West and Central Africa, there have been cases in Cameroon,
Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria.
(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Christina Fincher)
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